SATURDAY PRAYER: HOCHMA-YESHIVAT HAVERIM יְשִׁיבָה חברים – BABYLONIAN TALMUD p91

READING: BETWEEN AFTER MIDNIGHT AND DAWN SATURDAY

CHAPTER V.
REGULATIONS CONCERNING WHAT MAY AND MAY NOT BE WORN BY ANIMALS ON
THE SABBATH.
MISHNA I.: What gear may we let animals go about in and what not? 1 The male camel in a
bridle; the female cannel with a nose-ring; Lybian asses in a halter, and a horse in a collar. All
(animals) that are used to collars may go out in and may be led by the collar. Such gear (when it
becomes defiled) can be sprinkled and submerged without being removed from its (proper)
place (on the animal).
GEMARA: R. Jehudah in the name of Samuel said: “Rabbi was asked, How is it when the
reverse is the case? i.e., when the female camel is bridled and the male camel is invested with a
nose-ring? May they be allowed to go about? There is no question as to a bridle on a female
camel, for it is considered a burden; as to a nose-ring on a male camel, shall we assume that it is
merely an additional safeguard, and thus becomes permissible, or is it an unnecessary safeguard
and hence not allowed?” R. Ishmael b. Jossi answered: “Thus my father said: Four animals may
go about with a bridle on–the horse, the mule, the camel, and the ass.” A Boraitha states: Lydda
asses and camels may go about with a bridle on. The following Tanaim, however, differ as to
this point (whether a superfluous safeguard is a burden or not): one maintains that no animal
may go about burdened with a chain; but Hananya says a chain or anything else that is intended
as a safeguard is permitted.
Said R. Huna b. Hyya in the name of Samuel: “The Halakha prevails according to Hananya.”
Levi b. R. Huna b. Hyya and Rabba b. R. Huna once travelled together; arriving at an entrance,
the former’s ass ran ahead of the latter’s. Rabba b. R. Huna became dejected (at the lack of
respect shown him, supposing it to have been done intentionally). Thought Levi to himself: “I
will pacify him with the following question: Is it permitted to put a halter on an unmanageable ass like mine on the Sabbath?” Rejoined Rabba: “So said your father in the name of Samuel: ‘The decision of
Hananya prevails.'”